Michigan Lawyers Weekly has recognized Varnum attorney April Sawhill as one of the 2013 Women in the Law. The honor is awarded to those who exhibit excellence in the practice of law, are inspiring and accomplished leaders, serve as mentors to other women and contribute significant time to volunteerism or pro bono work. Among Sawhill’s efforts is helping to launch Varnum’s MiSpringboard program, a statewide initiative to remove barriers associated with starting a business by providing free legal services.

ACCOUNTING

Plante Moran PLLC announced the promotions of Ryan W. Bryker, Tim VanWingerden and Amy Butterfield to associate; Anthony J. Israels to state and local tax manager; and Paul Weis to manager.

Community West Credit Union has awarded a $2,000 Vern Hyde Scholarship to Logan Hawley and $500 to runner-up Madison Scheper. Hawley will purse a degree in environmental science at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio, and Scheper will study architecture at Miami University in Ohio.

Founders Bank & Trust announced Mark Crane has been appointed to serve on the board of directors of its holding company, Founders Financial Corp.

Brian Miller, vice president for IT services and CIO of Davenport University, has been appointed to the 2013 board of examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Created by public law in 1987, the award is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence a U.S. organization can receive.

Grand Valley State University announced the establishment of a new faculty chair position focused on community philanthropy within its Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy. The chair was established with a $1.5 million gift from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Kellogg Co. 25-year Employees’ Fund. The person who assumes the new position will help communities understand their philanthropic landscape and emerging best practices.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Ross Mortgage Corp. announced the addition of Marcia Karas as a mortgage loan officer in its Grand Rapids branch. Karas is responsible for expanding the firm’s ability to create an enhanced customer experience for West Michigan residents.

Molly Breen, senior branch office administrator at the Edward JonesGlenn L. Kimmel branch office in Walker, has been honored for client service excellence, which has earned her an invitation to Edward Jones’ Branch Office Administrators Managing Partner’s Conference, held at the firm’s headquarters in St. Louis in November.

FOUNDATIONS

The Economic Development Foundation announced the addition of Mark Davis as a loan officer for Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan. Davis is responsible for working with banks on all SBA 504 loan business.

Lucy Vail has joined Hospice of Michigan as director of admissions and inpatient services in the Detroit office. Vail is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the admission and inpatient services department.

Metro Health’s Dr. Larry Diaz-Sandoval has been named a fellow of the Society of Vascular Medicine. The fellowship recognizes leadership in vascular disease and those who have done meritorious work in the field of vascular medicine research.

LEGAL

Miller Johnson attorney Lauretta “Laurie” Murphy was named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly to the list of 2013 Michigan Women in the Law. Michael B. Quinn and Connie R. Thacker received certification as family law arbitrators by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Philip M. Idema and David N. Keyser have joined the law firm of Mika Meyers Beckett & Jones PLC and will be of counsel to the firm. Idema practices family law, estate planning, probate, business law and real estate law. Keyser practices family law, criminal law, drunk driving law, driver’s license restoration and civil litigation.

The Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Michigan Bankruptcy Section awarded Robert F. Wardrop II of Wardrop & Wardrop PC the Nims-Howard Civility Award in recognition of conduct, skill and advocacy that exemplifies the tradition of civility of the bench and bar.

LIFE SCIENCES

Steve Swanson, president/CEO of Imperial Clinical Research Services and CEO of DAC Patient Recruitment Services, has been named to PharmaVOICE magazine’s 100 Most Inspiring People in the Life-Sciences. PharmaVOICE 100 is a list of honorees nominated by readers based on essays describing how they have inspired their colleagues, competitors and respective communities.

MEDIA

WOOD TV 8 announced Koco McAboy is a 24 Hour News 8 reporter. She previously worked at the station since February as an associate producer who reported for 24 Hour News 8 Daybreak on the weekends as well as contributing to woodtv.com.

SPORTS

West Michigan Sports Commission announced it has hired Bryan Baar to manage the Art Van Sports Complex. Baar will manage operations of the championship-caliber complex on a contractual basis, reporting to the commission and an oversight committee. His role for the remainder of 2013 is to oversee construction operations, which will shift to marketing the complex and creating a tournament schedule as construction nears completion in 2014.

WEBSITES

The West Michigan Sports Commission announced it has launched a new website, artvansportscomplex.com. The site for 2013 will highlight construction and fundraising updates for the Art Van Sports Complex, while in 2014, it will start populating tournaments coming to the complex. The site ultimately will serve as a resource for all tournament activities once the complex is fully operational.

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